The Constitution of Kenya (Amendment) Bill 2018 has elicited mixed reactions from leaders, as the call for more women representation in the National Assembly and the Senate gains momentum. The two-thirds gender rule, which is contained in the 2010 constitution, stipulates that not more than two-thirds of the members of elective public bodies should be of the same gender, and this includes the National Assembly and the Senate. With the currnet setting, the National Assembly will require 20 more women and the Senate 2. Previous attempts to enact the rule have hit the wall and the current bill fronted by Majority Leader Aden Duale drew a heated debate on Tuesday as lawmakers look for a solution, with the final outcome to be known on Thursday. Kimilili MP Didmus Barasa has voiced his opposition to the bill, saying it doesn’t propose a formula how the 22 women leaders are going to be nominated and that unqualified people will be given posts.
The Kimilili MP said people who are in parliament must be there to serve and the vacancies shouldn’t just be filled for formalities, “We don’t just fill parliament with people, we fill parliament with people who are going to add value to the lives of Kenyans,” he said, “We need people who are going to legislate and execute the role of the National Assembly and the Senate…not people who are nominated to come and serve the interests of a few people.”
Moreover, the MP said seats should be reduced instead of being added, to alleviate the burden on Kenyans, insisting that creating more seats won’t help Kenyans. He said some seats existing at the moment hold no influence, “For example, I’ve seen Wilson Sossion he is a nominated MP, who does he represent? Who does Godfrey Osotsi represent? Where Ososti comes from, Lugari Constituency, they have a Member of Parliament, Ayub Savula,” he said. He added that the seats which must be jealously guarded are the position of people living with disabilities and that of the youth. Several leaders have called for the support of the bill, including Deputy President William Ruto, and former Premier Raila Odinga.